Скачать книгу

And he badly wanted to which was becoming a chronic problem. Every time he saw her, the urge to take her in his arms was stronger.

      With every lamp and overhead light on in the room, he knew the pink that crept into her cheeks was a blush and not from the cold outside. That was good, right? At least it was some reaction to him.

      “I just walked over from the mayor’s office to deliver some Christmas cheer in person,” she said.

      “You walked?”

      “It’s only a couple of blocks and the night is gorgeous and clear.”

      “Not too cold?” Austin asked skeptically.

      “I bundled up.”

      He could see that. While the Eskimo look was cute, he did like her in the black lace dress that was like sex in motion when she walked. “So what’s the news?”

      “As you know, I handle public relations and communications for the mayor’s office.”

      She seemed a little nervous, and from his perspective, just happened to be the cutest communicator he could imagine.

      “The mayor hasn’t decided to revoke the ROOTS permit, has he?”

      “No,” she said quickly. “Just the opposite. Sort of. I mean I’m not here with another permit. You don’t need two. But Mayor Clifton and the town council believe this place has proved to be beneficial to the teenagers. There’s been a definite drop in nuisance-related complaints since it opened. He’s allocating funds for tutoring and more computer equipment.”

      A sudden burst of laughter from the other room told him the boys had let go of their anger as boys usually did.

      Austin grinned. “That’s great. Haley’s on her honeymoon, but I’ll let her know when she gets back. She’ll be really happy to hear about that.”

      “The press release is going out tomorrow, so I wanted to stop by for a minute and deliver the good news.”

      “I’m glad you did.” And not just because the equipment and scholastic help were so badly needed. “Some kids don’t have a computer at home and they’re not likely to broadcast that by using the ones at the library. It’s an academic disadvantage without access at home. Plus, this place has become the cool place to hang out. Putting a subtle emphasis on study might make schoolwork a little cooler, too.”

      “I see what you mean.” She smiled. “This is the best part of my job.”

      The kids drifted back into the room and after a curious glance at the newcomer, they resumed stringing lights on the tree.

      Austin looked back at Rose. “Actually, by showing up you saved me a phone call.”

      “Oh?”

      “Yeah, I was going to ask you out, but now I can do it in person.”

      “A date?”

      The distressed expression on her face meant this was not starting out well. “When a guy invites a woman to dinner, by definition it’s called a date.”

      “I was afraid of that.”

      “Afraid? Why is it a problem? Because I’m not your ideal age?”

      “No.” She hesitated. “I mean yes, you’re not. But that’s not the only thing.”

      “What else?”

      “I’m on a dating diet.”

      That was pretty close to the lamest excuse he’d ever heard. He could see the headline now. Former bad boy crashes and burns. Reputation on life support. Irritation chipped away at him and he didn’t want to set a bad example for the kids.

      “How about some coffee?”

      “No, thanks.”

      He took her arm anyway and led her into the back room. This discussion wasn’t for curious teenagers to hear.

      Austin folded his arms over his chest and stared down at her. “Now tell me what you really want to say.”

      “I just did.”

      His eyes narrowed. “Dating diet? Really? If you don’t want to go out with me, just say so.”

      “I actually did that and you wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

      “Then explain to me the dating diet.”

      “It’s actually the result of a double dare.” Her expression was completely honest, which was refreshing. She answered in her characteristically straightforward way. “My brothers told me that I need to take a break from dating.”

      Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

      Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

      Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

      Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAgEASABIAAD/4Q9lRXhpZgAATU0AKgAAAAgABwESAAMAAAABAAEAAAEaAAUA AAABAAAAYgEbAAUAAAABAAAAagEoAAMAAAABAAIAAAExAAIAAAAUAAAAcgEyAAIAAAAUAAAAhodp AAQAAAABAAAAnAAAAMgAAABIAAAAAQAAAEgAAAABQWRvYmUgUGhvdG9zaG9wIDcuMAAyMDEzOjA4 OjEzIDA5OjIwOjEzAAAAAAOgAQADAAAAAQABAACgAgAEAAAAAQAABXigAwAEAAAAAQAACMIAAAAA AAAABgEDAAMAAAABAAYAAAEaAAUAAAABAAABFgEbAAUAAAABAAABHgEoAAMAAAABAAIAAAIBAAQA AAABAAABJgICAAQAAAABAAAONwAAAAAAAABIAAAAAQAAAEgAAAAB/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAgEASABI AAD/7QAMQWRvYmVfQ00AAf/uAA5BZG9iZQBkgAAAAAH/2wCEAAwICAgJCAwJCQwRCwoLERUPDAwP FRgTExUTExgRDAwMDAwMEQwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwBDQsLDQ4NEA4OEBQO Dg4UFA4ODg4UEQwMDAwMEREMDAwMDAwRDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDP/AABEI AIAAUAMBIgACEQEDEQH/3QAEAAX/xAE/AAABBQEBAQEBAQAAAAAAAAADAAECBAUGBwgJCgsBAAEF AQEBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAEAAgMEBQYHCAkKCxAAAQQBAwIEAgUHBggFAwwzAQACEQMEIRIxBUFRYRMi cYEyBhSRobFCIyQVUsFiMzRygtFDByWSU/Dh8WNzNRaisoMmRJNUZEXCo3Q2F9JV4mXys4TD03Xj 80YnlKSFtJXE1OT0pbXF1eX1VmZ2hpamtsbW5vY3R1dnd4eXp7fH1+f3EQACAgECBAQDBAUGBwcG BTUBAAIRAyExEgRBUWFxIhMFMoGRFKGxQiPBUtHwMyRi4XKCkkNTFWNzNPElBhaisoMHJjXC0kST VKMXZEVVNnRl4vKzhMPTdePzRpSkhbSVxNTk9KW1xdXl9VZmdoaWprbG1ub2JzdHV2d3h5ent8f/ 2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/ANl9mLi1GzJdtPAHKajrPS3QBexrjqA4gHVC6rg5F1uwP9ODqQATH8ncsHrX 1a9emj7C8MvrcTfbbqXN02bGNZ7H/S+iqxN9hTcAIrrb3FGTTY0QZ8wjDJqZyQB4nQLk/q9h59L6 6b3ySCTA0EK51jpV92Y1tjnuwyALK2EgnufcA5RmRC/hBd2vrPS32bG3tscOQwh0Kw5jndVZZVwa qml3hXN1r/8AP2bFyvTPqq2jIybq8h7Kn2B2LQ2QGV96rf8ASf1l2dNX6Zlsa+g1hPb2k/8Akk6N yPD4jUfixTqI4vCWh/BMQokKZUSrbTLXyB7CsthO5wWtaJaVnFoDynBjl0f/0OuzGhzw8iQQgFgA 0EopksDSVVvdA2kwDyqZLdj2T4bWucbGxPEq/dsaxr3naCQ2fM8LnmdUtxQ2t1e+lukt+lz+d+8t WjObmYzhEVP0O4QdD5p0iAK60qrN9L/BttaGnRaDBDG+MBUcNhIa0ndBgHyWgU/ANywZ5fosSoOK mUN5U4axRWOAaVhZvVq6LyyJK1siwBhXLWvo/aYN0bXaa+KkiNywZZEEAav/0erreHb6zpZSfcPE D27gsrqVORa/bTaKCwgglgeCPAtcW+161+r4WRTec7GnaTuftEljvzi5v51L1QF9OY3eIruYPfWO 4/0lf/B/9Qqk4kGm3EggSGo6/wBVyg/rbXgG3FeY+i5jmN58Geru/wA9aeM3qdlJb9qpqrIILaqt 8T/o3XFvv/svQnUY7jNjjt8tFo4dOKGtFbufzBqo5WWbjjw1QdDpFbqaq6rHF7nBxa6OQwD6X+ct Eqng3C3ONFYEU0l1hHY2FrKG/wCbVarLX76m2ATI17GVZwkCNNLMDxKPCFYdEUOrf9FwHaHSNfBQ fU8jQbh/J1UwLCQ5eWfaVzTsSrJ6iGWOLRI4XTZrHtaS5paPMELn6elu6hmF7XEBhiWmFIADFrSJ EwQ//9L0HDyRlUNuEB49tjWmdrx9Nqz8/oGLlPNtTjjXHXcwAtJ/edXp/wCBuYg9OvNOWXFwNVv6 N4A2w/8Awbj/ANQtwaphAkKKoSMdQaeMuxM3BtDc+vaxxhtzTurd/Vf+a7/g7P0i067aKKJrDQDq SOTH8pdGGNc0scA5rtHNcAQR/KBWBk9F6Zm0WW0WWUYuvtaRse0H3+nuD7GV3fzdf/gSrZcfDqD9 vg28eWJHqFeIbf1Ta6zp7+p2CH9QsNrR4VM/Q40fyXsZ63/XVZw7Hb8itwh1eRZX/ZMXV/8AgdrE KvrYxHUY/VMZvThc5tOO5jxZTvj20b2sq9F+1v8Ao/S/4RFtJq6nYw6C5tdrT4kfoLf+poU0eHhj wn5dGCZJkSeuqWytv0uAeTwAFAOcCRMka/EfvD+UiAwR4ED8sIZEmBo7U/MfnJyxK2540J0/CPFR 9HGLt/osDzy8DafvZtQ2mTpoQdR4H/yLlMEDy/h/5y5G6RVv/9Pq6Me264srAc9o9ziYaWeL3

Скачать книгу